BT to reveal subscription prices for European Champions League coverage

BT, led by Gavin Patterson, will broadcast the European Champions League

BT Sport is close to announcing a payment structure for subscriptions to its upcoming exclusive live coverage of the European Champions League.

The broadcaster began showing Premier League matches during the 2013-14 season. It has since upped its football offering by paying £897m to show the Champions League for the next three seasons.

Industry sources believe the most likely way the broadcaster will do this is to create a new channel, and charge an additional subscription rate of £5 a month to access it. This will be on top of the £13.50 a month it currently charges subscribers for BT Sport 1&2.

The group has convened a media briefing for 9 June, at which the long-awaited details are expected to emerge.

BT is using live sports rights to attract subscribers to its broadband services, after watching many customers defect to rivals such as Sky and Virgin Media.

Some analysts think BT will offer its Champions League coverage free of charge to new broadband subscribers, in an effort to win over new customers.